State To Get Preference In Federal Manufacturing Grants

The U.S. Department of Commerce has honored Connecticut, which gives it preferential treatment when it applies for grants to promote manufacturing. The state is one of 24 regions or states that have been selected in the past two years. All compete for $1.3 billion in grants from federal agencies.

The federal government lauded the state's commitment of $30 million to bolster manufacturing, though that is far from the only tax money that has been subsidizing factories. Small Business Express also has been active.

Last year, the state Department of Labor distributed $747,141 for worker training, mostly at manufacturers. In April, it received a $7 million fund from the state Department of Economic and Community Development, and has obligated $1 million to cover training at 29 factories, all with fewer than 500 employees.

That program gives grants of $5,000 to $100,000, and the companies have to match the grants.

"The Connecticut Advanced Manufacturing Communities Region is positioning itself to soar on growth in aerospace technologies and the latest class of submarines, after pioneering in aerospace and naval manufacturing for 100 years," the announcement Wednesday said.

Gov. Dannel P. Malloy, in a statement reacting to the selection, said: "With this designation and the federal funds supporting economic development programs in manufacturing, the state can accelerate and enhance our initiatives to boost innovation, worker skills, supply chain capabilities, infrastructure investment and job creation."

The announcement said U.S. manufacturing is on the upswing, with 900,000 additional jobs since February 2010. In Connecticut, the sector has 4,200 fewer jobs since then.